Caps trail Canadiens, 2-0, after one period

The Capitals fell behind quickly when Mike Cammalleri beat goalie Semyon Varlamov 1 minute 30 seconds into the opening period, deflating the packed house at Verizon Center hoping to see the home team score quickly as it tried to end the series in Game 5.

It got worse for the Capitals when Travis Moen collected a loose puck in the slot and flipped it backhanded past Varlamov at 7:01 for a 2-0 lead.

Washington managed to settle down thereafter and applied pressure on Montreal goalie Jaroslav Halak, who got the start over Carey Price. The Capitals had chances on rebounds just in front of the crease and had Halak scrambling, but they were unable to convert.

The Capitals had consecutive power plays in the period, but they looked disorganized in those situations, especially during the second man advantage when at times it seemed Montreal had the extra skater.

Montreal was called for interference near the end of the period, and Washington was set to begin the second period with a man advantage for 1:05 after outshooting the Canadiens, 15-9.

BREAKING NEWS: An APB has been put out for the Washington Capitals team that played WITH URGENCY AND PLAYED LIKE THEY WANTED. Last known location - Montreal.

What a disgusting first period. This is the team from Game 1 AGAIN. Lazily skating around and trying to get the puck out of the zone. La dee dah let's frolic around OH WAIT we are playing game. WAKE THE **** UP.

Agreed with changes needed on the PP. How dumb is Boudreau? Carlson has been clutch and deserves to be on the PP units. He should take Green's spot on the #1 unit. At least he doesn't fan and miss. Carlson is a better D-man overall and I don't care if Green was named a Norris nominee today. Carlson is the clutch guy on the blueline right now.

Unreal. At least Boudreau didn't mince his words when he said they must not have watched the Pittsburgh game last night? Oh well. We'll find out more about this team in the next 40 minutes.

Part of the problem with the Caps' PP is that Montreal is a much faster team. They are standing us up at the blue line then getting to pucks first consistently. Even when we do get possession in the offensive zone, they are putting relentless pressure on the puck and forcing bad passes and bad shots.

On the other hand, on their PP, they are using their speed combined with our soft neutral zone pressure and minimal resistance at the blue line to easily gain entry into the offensive zone. Maybe we have to respect their speed but we're making to easy for them. When they do get set up, our slow-footed PKers are having trouble applying pressure the way that they do to us.

Ugh they still are skating as if they're asleep out there. It's like - oh hey look a goal. And they didn't wake up. PATHETIC. And to still only be down 2-1 - I just hope someone flips the switch and we get the kind of effort we saw in the 3rd period of game 2.

ON THE GOAL - DID YOU NOTICE WHO GOT THE PUCK TOWARDS THE NET FOR OVIE TO SCORE. CARLSON CARLSON CARLSON. Wake up Boudreau and put this kid on the PP. Otherwise you continue to look like Curly from the Three Stooges.

I like the goal, but this is looking a bit like Pens-Sens. The Caps are out-playing and out-shooting the Habs, but Halak is trying to steal this game. The Caps are an awesome 3rd period team, so just win, baby, win!

The Canadiens PK is doing a good job on the Caps PP (in fact both PK teams are doing well so far). Stop fretting about it, we are better 5 on 5 (supposedly) and thus should prevail. What the Caps have to do is score the next goal.

Finally getting to watch a Caps playoff game live. Had to download them and watch the next day while avoiding the score while I've been stuck in Italy thanks to that volcano.

Varly has been great in every game he's played, but as a team we've underperformed.

Also, not sure what games are the commentors and many fans watching, but Semin has been playing very hard. You can't be one of the leaders in shots in the whole NHL during the playoffs by coasting through games. He's just been very unlucky and his shots aren't going in, but it certainly isn't for lack of trying. People just look at the goose egg in his goal column and it's like they're not watching the game. It's very unfair to say that Sasha looks like he doesn't care and isn't trying. He's been all over the place this whole series. He's even hitting players in this game and made a tremendous defensive play. Score a hat trick Sasha and shut everyone the hell up!

Not sure if y'all follow the Terps, but BB unwaivering loyalty to Mike Green reminds me of GW's relationship to GV. Neither player is perfect (actually, so far from it), but in the eyes of their respective coaches, they can do absolutely NO Wrong.

I don't get it. Carlson and Mike Green might as well be playing two different sports. Green is killing us.

Watching the Pens the last 2 games, I see characteristics of a SC team. They control the puck. They don't give up many turnovers, they execute on the PP, they don't panic in their own zone or ice the puck very often.

We do the opposite.

OV, a turn-over and scoring machine. That's not gonna cut it.

We no longer have 2 scoring lines.

Hopefully they can fix the 2nd line, but the other mistakes they cannot. At least not this year.

To fix the PP in my opinion, remove SEMIN, replace with Fehr or Knuble. Take OVi off the point, in place for Laich, put Corvo or Carlson on the point.

They have to AT LEAST get the PP going if they're gonna have any shot at the SC this year.

On even strenghth, you guys won't agree with me, but I think we should swap Backstrom with Bellange or Morrison. If we can't get a 2nd line out of Semin's line, then split up our top 2 offensive players, Backy and OVi, and see what happens.

Or, bench semin or flash for walker/stechle. Those guys will at least finish their checks. Which is right now a lot more than what flash or semin are doing.

Sorry for covering a bunch of topics in one post. Had to get it all off my chest.